13 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour from Guangzhou by Train; Guangzhou Tibet Train Tour

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

This 13-day China and Tibet tour by train starts from the southern coastal area of China, and will let you take in some of the best sights in two representative mainland cities of Guangzhou and Xining, before heading to the holy land of Tibet. Following the famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway from the starting point – Xining, you will take the well-equipped Tibet train to Lhasa. There, you will experience a wholly unique culture and get to know the local life strongly influenced by its Buddhist region, while visiting the world heritage Potala Palace , scared Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street . Then, the journey will continue on to the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest . You will stand on the famous Everest Base Camp to take in the gorgeous sunrise of Everest, before return to Lhasa and end your lifetime tour.

Best Time to Visit

All year round
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; light physical demand for the high altitude

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou and Tour Canton Tower at Night

When you arrive at Guangzhou Airport, our guide will pick you up from the waiting area, and transport you to your hotel. There you will be able to rest after your flight, or explore the area around the hotel.

After dinner, our guide will pick you up for a night visit to the famous Canton Tower, a must-see attraction for any visitor to the city. The tower is the highest TV tower in China, and the third highest in the world, at 595.7 meters tall. From the top you will have an excellent view out over the city, and inside there is a host of entertainments and restaurants.

The Sky Drop is a 100-foot high freefall, which you can do sitting down or standing up, and the Bubble Tram, with its 16 crystal cabins, is a popular attraction as it spins around the top of the tower. The Spider Walk is the world's longest spiral staircase, with 1,095 steps, making it an arduous climb. And there are 3D and 4D cinemas on the lower floors.

Stay overnight in Guangzhou

Day 2 Guangzhou City Tour: Chimelong Safari Park, Chime-long International Circus

Chimelong Safari Park

Chimelong International Circus

The Chimelong Safari Park is a wildlife world that reaches international standards with over 500 species of animals in the park, and the home of around 20,000 rare animals. A full day tour of the park will allow you to see all of the animals in their natural habitats, not cages up like in a zoo. The animals roam free and can be fed and have photos taken with them. The park has 50 koalas, pygmy hippopotamus, black rhinos, and the world's only giant panda triplets that were born there in 2014. There are trolley rides through the enclosures for parties without a vehicle, and walking around the rest of the park actually will take all day.

In the evening, we will take you to the world famous Chimelong International Circus, which is situated just outside Guangzhou. The circus is a classic style of entertainment, and the acts include hundreds of international performers from around the world. The stage literally comes to life in a series of spectacular shows with acrobats, clowns, dancers, and animal performers combined with amazingly choreographed music, lasers, lights, and fireworks. The performances are non-stop, and breathtaking, with parades roaming through the audience, and the chance of getting wet if you are too close to the front.

Stay overnight in Guangzhou

Day 3 Fly from Guangzhou to Xining

In the morning you will take the flight from Guangzhou to Xining, where our local guide will greet you at the airport. After you transfer to the hotel, you will have the rest of the day to rest and look around the city.

Stay overnight in Xining

Day 4 Xining Tour: Ta’er Monastery & Dongguan Mosque

Taer Monastery in Xining

Dongguang Grand Mosque

The next morning you will visit one of the most important religious sites in Tibetan Buddhism. Ta'er Monastery, also known as Kumbum Monastery, is located around 25km to the northeast of Xining, and is the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhist Master, Tsong Khapa. The monastery was built around an ancient pagoda that marks the place of his birth. The most interesting part of the visit is the debate of the lamas. Students are tasked to put difficult philosophical questions to their masters in an open debate.

After lunch you will be taken to downtown Xining to visit the famous Dongguan Mosque, with its unique mix of Tibetan, Han, Arabic, and European architecture. This amazing place is full of culture and religion, and has been standing there for over 600 years. The main prayer hall can hold up to 3,000 people, and the mosque is an educational center and the institute for higher learning of Islam, as well as the leading mosque in Qinghai Province.

Stay overnight in Xining.

Day 5 Board Overnight Train to Lhasa

In the morning you will have time to rest or walk around the city, and in the afternoon you will transfer to Xining Railway Station, to begin the ride over the Qinghai-Tibet Rail-way to Lhasa.

Stay overnight on the train.

Day 6 Scenery View of Tibet Railway; Arrive in Lhasa

Kekexili Grand Prairie

Lhasa Train Station

Today, you will witness the most beautiful scenery of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The land of snows, the desert, the grassland, snow mountains and the lakes will continually appear and strongly attract your heart. Remember to choose a good angle to take beautiful pictures of Kekexili Grand Prairie and the continuous snow-capped mountains.

You will arrive in Lhasa at about 11:10. Your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit of the train station to welcome you. A private car will take you from the train station to the reserved hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 7 Lhasa Tour: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street

Potala Palace

Johkang Temple

In the morning, you will visit the famous Potala Palace and explore the grandest chapels. You will experience its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala etc.

In the afternoon, you will continue your visit to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Ganpo's reign by princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D, and its famous Barkhor Street, where you can buy or appreciate traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition Tibetan clothes etc. You will have a chance to get close to appreciate how the artists draw Thangkas at the Thangka workroom at Barkhor.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 8 Lhasa Tour: Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Scriptures Debating in Sera Monastery

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery is situated at the foothill of a mountain and was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. It was once home of 10000 monks and Ganden podrang in Drepung is famous it was the government centre during fifth dalai lama and later moved to the famous potala palace during fifth dalai lama.

After having lunch, continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most attractive is that Monks debiting is held there in the courtyard at around 3-5 in the afternoon section most of the time.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 9 Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Gyangtse – Shigatse

Yamdrok Lake

Pelkor Monastery

In the morning our guide will drive you from Lhasa to Shigatse, Tibet's second largest city. En route to Shigatse you will pass over Gampala Pass, which lies at an elevation of 4,790 meters, and will pass the amazing Lake Yamdrok. At 4,400 meters above sea level, the lake lies nestled between lofty mountains, and you will see the holy mountain, Nyenchen Khangsar, its 7,191 meter peak standing tall in the distance.

In Gyantse, you will get to visit the unique Pelkor Monastery, which is rare due to it housing three different sects of Tibetan Buddhism under one roof. You will also get to see the Gyantse Kumbum, a giant architectural stupa that stands 34 meters high.

After another hour and a half of driving you will reach Shigatse, and will be able to visit the seat of Tibet's second highest spiritual leader, the Panchen Lama, at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 10 Shigatse to Everest Base Camp

Himalayan Range

Rongbuk Monastery

After obtaining your Alien's Travel Permit, which is needed to tour this area, you will leave Shigatse for Lhatse, a small town where you can get a nice lunch. On the drive on to Shegar, weather permitting, you will get your first look at the amazing sight of Mt. Everest, or Mt. Qomolangma as it is called in Tibetan.

The drive on to Rongbuk Monastery crosses one of the highest passes in Tibet, the Pang La Pass, at 5,050 meters, from which you can see all five of the world's highest peaks. After arriving at Rongbuk you will be able to rest from the long drive, ready for the trip to EBC.

Stay overnight in a tent or at the Rongbuk Monastery Guest House (depending on availability)

Tips: The location is very remote and inhospitable, and the accommodation facilities are very basic here. Water is in short supply, there is no hot water, and toilets are just a pit in the ground. You should also be aware that in this remote region, you will be "roughing it", and sleeping facilities are not ideal. However, it is more than worth it to put up with the basic facilities for the amazingly spectacular views of Everest, and we will do our best to ensure that your personal requirements can be met, and you get the very best service from us.

Day 11 EBC and Return to Shigatse

Sunrise over the Mt.Everest

Everest Base Camp

As the dawn comes, you will be able to greet the sun as it rises over the mountains, framing Everest in its morning glow in the distance. The view of Everest from Rongbuk is magnificent, with the mountain standing proud in front of you. After breakfast, you can trek from there to Everest Base Camp, which is a 4km walk, or you can take the local bus.

After visiting EBC, and taking all the photographs you can manage, you will head back to Rongbuk for a tour of this amazing monastery. The highest monastery in the world, at 5,000 meters above sea level, it is part of the Nyingmapa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and is unique in that both monks and nuns live together in the same monastery.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 12 Shigatse to Lhasa

The day is spent driving back to Lhasa along the famous Sino-Nepal Friendship High-way. The road to Lhasa is 280 km long and it takes around six hours to drive. The road follows the course of the Yarlung Tsangpo river, which is the longest and largest river in Tibet. The evening will be yours to rest from the long drive.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 13 Depart from Lhasa

You will be transferred to Lhasa airport for your flight to next destination.

Service Guide

Price Inclusions

Tibet Travel Permit and all other necessary permit to Tibet;
Domestic train/flight tickets as indicated in the itinerary, including the hard sleeper ticket of Xining-Lhasa train, flight ticket from Guangzhou to Xining;
All lodging listed in the itinerary. If you travel individually, you will need to share one room with another tourist. If you prefer to stay in one room by yourself, you will have to pay the single room supplement;
Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;
Meals listed in the itinerary;
Experienced English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
First aid kit;

Price Exclusions

Chinese visa;
International flight to and out of China;
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
Meals not specified the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~15USD per person in Tibet Autonomous Region);
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!

The cancellation fee charged by 3rdpoletour.com will be kept under your name (person who contacted us) for a usable period of 2 years. Within the applicable period you can use it for next time or you can kindly pass your authority to any of your family, friends or colleagues to use by booking a tour with 3rdpoletour.com. A certifying email from you is necessary to pass the cancellation fee to others, but it is only applicable for private group.